Page:The Net of Faith.pdf/83

26 translations and extracts published in Prague as well as through the polemical literature flowing in abundant profusion from the pens of Hussite priests. And as to the third influence, "Waldensian heresies were rampant" all over southern Bohemia. In his opposition to Hussite formalism Chelc̄icky̍ could not but feel sympathetic toward the Waldensian teachings which urged a return to apostolic simplicity. In the following chapters we shall see how these ideas permeate his philosophy.

But Chelc̄icky̍ was not a copyist. Far from that. He accepted from S̄ti̍tny̍, Hus, Wyclif, and Waldensianism, what he thought to be sound and biblically correct; that was his starting point. But from here on he went quite independently, basing himself solely on the Bible. He disagreed with S̄ti̍tny̍ who thought that a mere reform would do away with (Contd. from preceding page). "It was formerly assumed that he must have gone to Prague during the years of Hus's active service in Bethlehem Chapel and there acquired his knowledge of the Master's views. But such an inference finds no positive confirmation in the available sources, although it cannot be ruled out dogmatically. It seems more natural to suppose that Peter's references to his personal contact with Hus should be understood in the sense that he had heard the Bethlehem preacher after the latter's withdrawal from Prague in 1412, when he had taken refuge in southern Bohemia, in the very neighborhood of Chelčice." Spinka,, p.272.

Holinka,, p. 10; also, V. Novotny̍, , Prague: Topic̄, 1935, p.5 and 14.